Machine and method for binding books



Nov. 3, 1942. A. FREUNDLICH 0 MACHINE AND METHOD FOR BINDING BOOKS Filed June 4, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Nov. 3, 1942. A. FREUNDLICH MACHINE AND METHOD FOR BINDING BOOKS Filed June 4, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 3, 1942. A. FREUNDLICH MACHINE AND METHOD FOR BINDING BOOKS Filed June 4, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 1942-, A. FREUNDLICH 2,3005

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR BINDING BOOKS Filed June 4, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 W (fig, 4

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Ndv. 3, 1942. A. FREUNDLICH v MACHINE AND METHOD FOR BINDING BOOKS F'iled June 4, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS Nov. 3, 1942. A. FREUNDLICH MACHINE AND METHOD FOR BINDING BOOKS Filed June 4, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 L S 3 H Tu N NE R we m NF T E 7 BY J Nov. 3, 1942. A. FREUNDLICH 2,300,544

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR BINDING BOOKS Filed June 4, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 BY'M ' ATTO R N EYS N513, 1942- A. FREUNDLICH 2,3005

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR BINDING BOOKS Filed June 4, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 /4l@ /45 ATTORNEYS 1942. A. FREUNDLICH 2,300,5

I MACHINE AND METHOD FOR BINDING BOOKS Filed June 4, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 ATTO R N EYS Patented Nov. 3, 1942 MACHINE AND METHOD FOR BINDING BOOKS Albert Freundlich, New York, N. Y., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Spiral Binding Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 4, 1941, Serial No. 396,550

31 Claim. (Cl. 11-1) This invention relates to machine and method for making book constructions, particularly those of the type in which a plurality of .sheets are loosely bound together by means of a helical or spirally-shaped binder and an example of which is shown in United States Patent No. 2,279,193 issued to William A. De Hart on April 7, 1942.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an emcient and durable machine capable of rapidly binding a book of the indicated type with a helical wire which is.formed, threaded through the perforations provided along the binding edge of the book, out to proper length and locked in position in the book during one cycle of operations of the machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the following detailed description of the in vention.

Before taking up the detailed description of the invention, however, it is considered advisable to point out that the invention broadly involves mechanism for shaping each set of successive perforations in the book so that it defines a passageway which conforms in curvature to the curved portion or segment of the helical binder which will extend therethrough, means for securely clamping the book in its shaped condition during the binding operation, means for forming a wire into a helical shape and automatically.

feeding it into the shaped sets of perforations along the binding edge of the book of sheets. means for controlling the duration of the period during which the formed wire is fed into the book, thereby controlling the length of the helical binder, and means for cutting the ends of the portion of the wire threaded into the book and for turning such ends inwardly so as to lock the binder in position in the book. Incorporated in the machine are also other control means which come into operation under certain conditions to perform their various functions.

The invention consists, accordingly, in the novel features of construction, arrangements and combinations of parts embodied, by way of example, in the machine hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is an elevational view of the rear of the machine; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along a line passing approximately midway through the machine; Fig. 3 is a view substantially similar to Fig. 2 but looking in the opposite direction; Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the upper portion of the machine, some of the parts being omitted to show the arrangement of the 55 cutting and bending units and the associated instrumentalities; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed rear view, partly in section and partly broken away, of the forming die and the devices for guiding the wire through the book; Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view of the machine showing in plan view the mechanism for controlling the feeding and forming of the wire; Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a detailed front elevational view of the metering mechanism illustrated in Fig. 'I for controlling the duration of feed of the wire; Fig. 10'is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings but looking from the opposite direction and illustrating the manner in which the members for rearranging the sheets of the book operate during the initial forward throw of the operating handle; Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 showing the parts in an advanced position and showing also in dotted outline the position of the sheet arranging mechanism at the end of the forward throw of the operating handle; Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the cutting and bending mechanism taken along the line l2-l2 of Fig. 13; Fig. 13 is a front elevational view of a cutting and bending unit; Fig.

'14 is a side elevational view of the unit illustrated in Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a front elevational view of the upper end portion of the other cutting and bending unit; Fig. 16 is a rear elevational view, partly in section, of the pin clutch mechanism for controlling the operation of the main cam shaft; Fig. 1'7 is a top plan view. partly in section and partly broken away, of the mechanism for controlling the adjustment of the rear portion of the table; Fig. 18 is a side elevational view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1'1 of the drawings; Fig. 19. is a side elevational view of a portion of the instrumentalities for starting the operation of the machine and for rendering it inoperative; Fig. 20 is a side elevational view of a portion of the mechanism for controlling the operation of the side gauge; Fig. 21 is a crosssection view taken along the line 2|-2l of Fig. 22; Fig. 22 is a view similar to Fig. 20 showing the position of a portion of the side guide actuating mechanism after such mechanism has been operated. and Fig. 23 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the forward portion of the operating table of the machine and illustrating the mechanisms for adjusting the lateral or fore and aft position of the table.

In the drawings, and referring more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, the reference numeral I designates the wire from which the binders are made, the wire being drawn from a wire reel 2 which is mounted on the base of the machine and which is adapted to hold a considerable length of the wire so as to provide a supply of wire sufficient for the formation of .a considerable number of the spiral binder elements. The wire I passes upwardly from the reel 2 into an oil cup 3 which is preferably filled with cotton or other absorbent material saturated with a light lubricant which becomes adhered to the exterior surfaces of the wire in its passage through the oil cup and facilitates the feed of the wire through the machine. The wire then passes through two series of straightening grooved rolls 4 and 5 (see Figs. 1 and 2) which remove any kinks or bends in the wire. After leaving the rolls 4 and 5, the wire passes through a guide tube 8 positioned between a pair of feed rolls 1 and 8, the latter of which draw the wire up from the reel 2 and force it up a guide tube 9 and into a spiral forming die which is indicated generally by the reference character Ill (see Fig. 5) and which is composed of a block having a bore ll disposed at right angles to the guide tube 9. It will be noted from Fig. 5 of the drawings, that the tube 8 in the bore ll while its other end is spaced from the portion of the wall of the bore ll provided with the internal groove l2. Thus the mandrelll is properly supported in the bore H by its inner end and its outer end cooperates with the internal groove l2 to form the wire fed into the die into a spiral shape. The mandrel or shaft I3 is movable longitudinally of the bore II for adjustment with respect to the spiral groove I2 through a threaded rod ll which is connected to the inner end of the shaft and extends beyond the inner end of the die block iii, and a nut l5 adapted to bear against the associated end face of the die I 0. The outer end of the mandrel or shaft l3 carries an enlarged plug-like portion or pilot it having formed in its exterior surface a spiral groove i! into which is fed the convolutions of the spiral formed by the groove l2, the groove ll of the pilot i8 guiding the spirally formed wire forwardly to the place where such wire will be threaded into the apertures of the book. The wire leaving the forward end of the pilot i6 passes around the top end of the book and then downwardly into the first of the series of perforated holes provided along the binding edge of the book. Prior to the entry of such wire into the perforations of the book', such perforations are first aligned in an arcuate manner by mechanism which will be hereinafter more fully explained. When a sufficient length of wire has been fed to provide a complete spiral binder element. cutting and bending mechanism comes into operation to cut the portion of wire threaded in the perforations to its proper length and to bend the ends thereof in a manner which will also hereinafter be more fully explained. In this connection it may at this time be pointed out, that the outer projecting end of the pilot I 6 is cut and bending mechanism at this end of the machine may enter to perform its operations. By varying the pilot I! with relation to the die ll. through the medium of rod l4 and nut ll, variations in the wire pitch and the diameter formed in the die may be corrected or effected. Thus} by adjusting the nut I! so that the pilot i6 is moved slightly away from the die l0, the turn or coil of the spiral wire issuing from the latter and in the region of the neck of the mandrel II will be stretched, while by adjusting the pilot ll towards the die ll, such turn or coil will be compressed. This stretching or compressing of the wire will be sufiicient to correct small inaccuracies in the spiral wire formed by the die I! and these corrections are not influenced by the pilot's spiral groove I1 which is wider than the diameter of the wire. Minute adjustments may also he thus made of the exit end of the groove vII of pilot I6 with respect to the first of the series of perforations in the book. The pilot I as well as die Hi can also be adjusted as a unit by varying the position of die III in its supporting guide or bracket ii, the die being maintained in its adjusted position by means of the threaded hand bolt it which extends through a threaded aperture in the top of the bracket or block l8 and ilrlitol oth'c guideway in which is positioned the The mechanism for aligning the perforations of the book to be bound is controlled by a manually operated handle A which, as is shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, is carried on the outer ends of a pair of arms B. The other ends of the arms B are fixedly connected to a rod C extending longitudinally along the rear of the machine and rotatably supported at its ends by two bearing brackets 20, 2! (see Fig. 1). The bearing brackets 20 and 2| are slidably and rotatably mounted on a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending, stub shafts or rods which are fixedly secured to the frame of the machine and only one of which can be seen in the view illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, such rods being indicated by the reference numeral 22. The shaft C and the rod 22, at the left hand side of the machine, as viewed in Fig. 1 of the drawings, are separated and disconnected. The rod 22 at the right hand side of the machine, as viewed in such figure is, however, connected to the shaft C by a bar 24 which is fixedly secured to the shaft or rod 22 but is movable relative to the shaft C which extends therethrough. Intermediate the bar 24 and the adjacent handle arm B of the operating handle and encircling shaft C, is a coiled spring 25 which normally urges the unit or carriage comprising the handie A, arms B, B and shaft C towards the opposite side of the machine. Fixedly secured to the shaft C intermediate the brackets 20 and 2| is an elongated supporting bracket 28 on the upper surface of which is mounted a plate 21, as is shown more clearly in Figs. 2, l0 and 11 of the drawings. The forward edge por tion of plate 21 projects forwardly beyond' the forward edge of the bracket 28 and has secured thereto a series of hook-like members 28, the shanks of such hook-like members everlying the plate 21 and the hooked ends 29 thereof extendaway to provide a space into which the cu t g ing forwardly from the forward edge of the plate 21. Each of the hooked ends 29 is of a radius determined by the diameter of the spiral binder to be inserted in the perforations and is preferably of the same diameter. The hooked ends 29 are also offset to the same degree as the pitch of the coils in the spiral binder to be inserted.

'Ihus when such ends 23 are inserted into the apertures of the book they will shape each set of successive perforations so that it defines a passageway which conforms in curvature to the curved portion or segment of the helical binder which will extend therethrough. This operation takes place at the beginning of the forward movement of the handle A in the operation of the machine. At the time that the handle A is moved forwardly tocause the hooked ends 23 of the members 23 to come into engagement with the sets of perforations in the book D, the latter is lying in unclamped condition on the working table 23 of the machine with its binding edge against two stop or guide members 33. 33 (see Fi s. 4 and As the forward free or hooked ends 23 of the members 23 engage with the series or sets of perforations provided along the hinding-edge of the book, as is shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings, the free pages of the book are shifted so that the apertures of each set assume an arcuate form conforming to the configuration of the hooked ends 29 and are also offset to the same degree as the pitch of such ends. In their passage through the apertures of the superimposed sheets of the book the hooks thus form the apertures to the shape desired and at the same time free the holes of any material which may have been retained therein as a result of drilling or punching such apertures. fact that the free ends of the members 23 are pointed, the hooked ends in their passage'through the several sets of apertures in the book will first align the apertures into substantially the correct position before forming them into the shape of a segment of a helix.

The shaft C and bracket 26 are enclosed by a cylindrically-shaped housing E which is attached at its ends to the supporting brackets 23 and 2| (see Figs. 1 and 10 and 11). Mounted upon the housing E are a pair of clamp operating means comprising two set screws 3|, 3|, which are in threaded engagement with and extend through the brackets 32, 32 secured to the exterior surface of the housing E, the set screws 3|, 3| being fixed in their adjusted positions with respect to the brackets 32, 32 by the usual lock nuts. The forwardly projecting ends of the set screws 3|, 3| are adapted to engage with and depress a pair of spring-pressed plungers 33, 33 provided at each end of a clamp body 34 (see Figs. 1 and 11 and more particularly the latter which shows in dotted outline the manner in which the set screws engage such plungers). The plungers 33, 33 normally rest on the upper ends of two clamp guides 33, 33 to maintain the clamp body 34 in raised position, as is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 10 of the drawings. The clamp body 34 which is slidably engaged at its ends with the opposed grooves in clamp guides 33, 33 is provided intermediate such guides with a clamp member or shoe 36 (see Fig. 10) adapted to come into engagement with the top surface of a book D on table 23 when the plungers 33, 33 are depressed or retracted by the set screws 3|, 3|, as is shown in dotted outline in Fig. 11 of the drawings. The shoe 36 is connected to the clamp body 34 by a pair of T-shaped guide members 43, 43 (see Figs. 1 and 10) which are slidably mounted in a T- shaped guideway 31 provided along the lower longitudinal edge of the body 34 of the clamp. The shoe 36 is adjustably connected to each of the T-shaped guide members 43, 43 by means of a bolt 44 whose head is positioned in a traverse as. as isshown m Fig. 11 of the drawings. and

, both in a longitudinal Due 30 the 30 slot 33' provided in the under surface of the shoe whose shank extentb up through the shoe and into the vertical body portion of the T-shaped guide member, whereby the shoe 33 is enabled to be moved forwardly and rearwardly with respect to such members and consequently the clamp body 34. When the sh0e 33 is properly adjusted the bolts 44, 44 are tightened to secure the shoe in position. Mounted in the forward arm of the T-shaped guideway 31, intermediate the two T-shaped guide members, is a rack bar 33 whose ends are in engagement with the spaced guide members 43, 43 provided on the shoe 33. The, teeth of the rack bar 33 are engaged by a pinion '33 provided on the lower end of a stem 43 which extends up through and is in threaded engagement with a lock nut 4| resting on a horizon'tal surface of the clamp body 34, the upper end of the stem 43 being provided with a handwheel 42 by which the pinion may be rotated. It will thus be seen that the shoe 36 is adjustable direction and in both transverse directions to obtain an accurate position of the shoe 33 with respect to the hookshaped ends or positioning fingers 29. The shoe 33 is provided along its rear edge with a projecting ledge having a series of open slots 46 formed therein in such manner that when the clamp is in position on the book, as is shown in dotted outline in Fig. 11 of the drawings, such slots become aligned with the formed apertures of the book. In this portion of the shoe 36, the projecting portions or teeth formed by the slots 43 will be positioned intermediate the sets of apertures thus affording a firm support or clamping means for the portions of the sheets intermediate the apertures or perforationsthereof. The slots 43 are each formed to have an average angle of the helix and are of sufilcient width was not to interfere either with the removal of the positioning fingers 29 or the threading of the binder through the apertures of the book.

It will be understood from the foregoing that on the forward throw of the handle A. the positioning fingers 29 first engage the sets of apertures in the book D to arrange them into proper form for the reception of the spiral binder. When the handle A has been moved forwardly so that the set screws 3|, 3| come into engage- ,ment with the spring-pressed plungers 33, 33, as

is shown in dotted outline in Fig. 11 of the drawings, such plungers are depressed thereby causing the clamp body 34 to slide down in the guide 33, 33 and bring the shoe 36 into engagement with the top of the hook D. Thus at the completion of the forward movement of the handle A, the sheets of the book have been arranged so that the perforations thereof are in proper shape for the reception of the spiral binder and the sheets of the book, as thus arranged, are clamped in their adjusted positions on the table 23 of the machine by the shoe 36 of the clamp 34. The handle A is then moved rearwardly by the operator to remove the positioning fingers 29 from theapertures of the book and during such rearward movement the fingers 29 pass upwardly through the slots 43 of the shoe 36. By reason of the fact that the book is clamped in position so that the interior surfaces of the apertures in the book are relatively fixed, the fingers 29 during their outward or returning movement are cammed in the direction of the pitch of the hole to shift the carriage of which the handle is a part to one side against the tension of the spring 23, the spring 23 immediately returning the carriage to its normal position after the hooks have cleared the apertures in the book.

The backward throw "of the handle A causes 1 also an operating arm 45 (see Figs. 1 and 19) fixedly secured to the left hand end of shaft C, as viewed in Fig. 1 of the drawings, to come into engagement with the free end of a starting lever 41 pivotally mounted at 41' on a side frame of the machine, to start the feeding and forming of the wire, as has been previously explained. When the starting lever 41 is thrown forwardly by the handle A through arm 45, it displaces a ment with the second wedge 5| shown in Fig. 16

of the drawings and positioned from the wedge 5| at an angle of approximately 90 or onequarter turn of the male clutch member 58. If the wedge 5| has not been withdrawn, in a manner which will be hereinafter more fully exlever 48 which is pivoted intermediate its ends on the brackets 49 and is connected at its outer end to the lever 41 by means of a link 58. The other or inner end of the lever 48 carries a wedge 5| (see Fig. 1) which controls the operation of a pin clutch of conventional construction, such as is shown for example in Fig. 16 of the drawings and designated generallyby the numeral 52. The dis placement of lever 48 by the forward movement of lever 41, causes the wedge 5|, which is similar to the wedge 5| shown in Fig. 16 of the drawings but positioned at a different place with respect to the clutch 52,to be withdrawn from the path plained, the lug 53 will through the cam face of wedge 5| be forced outwardly against the tension of its associated spring 55, thereby disconnecting the pin from the engaged slot 8'! and breaking the driving connection of the shaft 59 with the motor 58. During this initial 90 rotaof a stop lug 53 mounted on a pin 54 which is provided on the male member 58 of the clutch 52. The pin 54 is normally urged by a spring 55 toward the female clutch plate 55 which is rotatably mounted on a main cam shaft 59 and which is provided with a plurality of recesses 51 adapted to receive the outer end of the pin 54. When the pin 54 is seated in a recess 51, the female member 56 of the clutch 52 is united with the male member 58 of such clutch and with the main cam shaft 59 to which the male clutch member 58 is fixedly attached. Fixedly secured to the female member 55 and ro'tatably mounted on shaft 59 is a worm wheel 55 which is in engagement with a worm 55 secured to a transverse shaft 53. The shaft 53 is mounted at its ends in bearing members provided on the housing 54 of the reduction gear box and is connected to a motor 58 (see Fig. 1) which is mounted on the frame of the machine through a pulley wheel 52 secured to such shaft and connected by a strap or belt 5| to a pulley wheel provided on the driving shaft of the motor 50. It will thus be seen that when the pin 54 engages a recess 51 in the female clutch member 55, the shaft 59 is connected in driven relation to the motor 58 through worm wheel 55, worm 55, shaft 53, pulley 52 and belt SI, and through such connections is caused to be rotated. The rotating of'shaf't 59 causes a series of cams secured thereto to bev rotated whereupon there is set into operation various mechanisms controlled by such cams.

Returning again to the wedge 5|, this wedge is in engagement with the lug 53 at the start of each cyle of operation of the machine and during such engagement the cam surface thereof through lug 53 is holding the spring-Dressed pin 54 in retracted position with its outer end out of engagement with the recess 51 in the female clutch member, thereby disconnecting the cam shaft 59 from the motor 50. When lever 41 is actuated on the backward throw of handle A to withdraw wedge 5| from the path of lug 53, the pin 54 is enabled to engage with an associated recess 51 to connect shaft 59 in driven relation with the motor 58 and thereby to cause such shaft to start its rotational movement. the shaft rotating through one complete revolution for each cycle of operations of the machine. As soon as lug 53 moves past the withdrawn wedge 5|, the latter returns to its tion of shaft 59, certain of the cams mounted on such shaft cause certain mechanisms to come into operation.

The cams mounted on shaft 59 include a pair of spaced clamp elevating cams I0, 18, a cutter operating cam II, a cutter elevating cam 12 and a spiral starting or feed roller control cam 13.

The first-of these cams to come into operation during the rotative movement ofshaft 59 is cam 13 which controls the operativeness of the feed rollers and 8 to feed the wire I from the reel 2 to the die l8 and to feed the spirally formed portion of such wire into the apertures of the book D which, as has been explained, is properly arranged and clamped in position on the table 23 of the machine by the shoe 35 of the clam-p body 34. The feed rollers are driven continuously during the operation of the machine but are normally in separated condition so as to be inoperative to feed the wire to the forming die l8. Rotaative movement is imparted to the feed roller 1 from the motor 58 (see Fig. 1) which, as has been explained, is connected to the transverse shaft 83 by the belt 5| and pulley wheel 52. Mounted on and secured to shaft 53 is a gear 14 which meshes with gear 15'rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 15 secured at one end in a boss 11 formed on the gear housing 54, as is shown more clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Integral with the gear 15 is a pulley wheel 18 which carries the upper end of a strap or band 19 (see Figs. 1 and 3), the lower end of such band being carried 'by a pulley wheel mounted on a transverse shaft 8| rotatably mounted on a bearing hanger 82 (see Fig. 2). The shaft 8| also carries acone pulley 88 which is connected by means of a band or strap 89 to a cone pulley 98 providedon the shaft 9| to which the feed roller 1 is connected. By this mechanism. feed roller 1 is maintained in constant connection with motor 58 and is thus continuously driven while the latter is operating. Continuous rotative movement is imparted to feed roller 8 from shaft 9| by means of a gear 92 which is mounted on such-shaft and which meshes with a gear 93 secured to the shaft 94 to which the feed roller 8 is also secured, as is shown more clearly in Fig. '7 of the drawings. During the rotative movements of feed rollers and 8. a balanced tension on the two belts l9 and 89 is attained by the mounting of the shaft 8| on the hanger support 82 which is in the form of a bell crank lever. As is shown more clearly in F g. 1 of the drawings, one arm of the support 82 is tensioned by a spring 83 which is connec ed to an adjustable standard 84 and the other arm of such support is connected at the point 83 to one end of a link which is supported at its other end by a depending bracket8l fixed to the frame of the machine. The standard 80 is also adiustably connected by its portion 84' to the link is and rigidly supports the free end of link 85 in its adjusted position. Thus the initial tension applied to the belts I9 and 89 is obtained through the medium of the adjustable standard 84 and the link 85, while an equalizing tension is applied through the medium of the spring 83.

The actuationof cam I3 brings into operation mechanism which will render the continuously rotating feed rollers I and 8 operative to feed the wire to theforming die I for a predetermined period of sufficient duration to provide for the formation and the threading through the book D of a spiral binder of a predetermined length. At the start of the cycle of operations and before the shaft 59 is caused to rotate in the manner previously explained, the cam I3 is in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings with a cam roller 95 resting on a portion of the cam immediately before the lifting surface portion or exterior surface of the tooth-shaped portion I3 of the cam, it being understood that the cam I3 will rotate in the direction of the arrow shown on such cam. When the shaft 59 commences its rotative movement, the lifting surface of the cam portion I3 moves in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 of the drawings, or in the direction indicated by the arrow and causes the cam roller 95 to roll up on such surface, thereby lifting such-cam roller together with the vertically disposed link or arm 96 to which said cam roller is attached. The link 95 is provided at its lower end with a fork-shaped portion which straddles a reduced portion 98 (see Fig. 16) of a collar 99 mounted on the shaft 59 adjacent to the cam I3 so that such forked end 91 of the link 90 is slidably confined between the collar 99 and the cam I3. The upper end of the link 98 is pivotally connected to the outer end of a lever I00 whose other end is rotatably and slidably supported on a shaft "II, which itself is slidably supported in a bearing bracket I02. As is shown more clearly in Fig. 8 of the drawings, the shaft I0 I intermediate the lever I00 and a second lever I03 also pivotally mounted on such shaft, is provided with an enlarged, rectangularly-shaped portion I00 adapted to be received in enlarged recesses or slots provided in the opposed faces of the hub portions of the levers I00 and I03 and thereby normally to connect or to lock such levers together so that they function in the nature of a bell crank lever on the shaft I0 I The slots provided in the hubs of the levers I00 and I03 each flare outwardly at their outer ends to enable the levers to be shifted relative to the enlarged portion 104. Thus lever I00 is enabled to become disconnected from the portion I 04 and to drop downwardly when the cam I3 has rotated past its highest point. The lever I03, however, will remain in its displaced position during the period that the link 99 and lever I00 return to their normal positions and until the lever I03 is further displaced to cause it to return to its normal at rest position, in a manner to be hereinafter more fully described.

The raising of the link 99 causes the levers I00 and I03 which are at this time united by the enlarged key portion I04 of the shaft II", to rotate in a clockwise manner, as viewed in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and thereby to shift a link I05 connected to the other end of lever I03 (see Figs. 2, 7 and 8) longitudinally in a direction towards the front of the machine. The link I05 is connected at its forward end by a universal joint I06 to a control lever I01 which, as is shown more clearly in Fig. 'I of the drawings, is pivoted intermediate its ends at the point designated I08 and carries at its forward end a cam roller I09. Thus when the link I05 is shifted toward the front of the machine, the lever I01 through the universal joint connection I09 will be caused to pivot about the point I08 to the dotted'line position shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings and thereby cause the cam roller I09 carried thereby to come into engagement with and press against a cam member IIO providedon the free end of a lever III to cause the latter to move to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, about its pivot H2. The lever III adjacent its pivoted end carries a. cam-shaped projection 3 which is normally in engagement with the adjacent face of a block I slidably mounted in a guide H5, the engagement of the block Ill and cam projection II3 being maintained by means of spring I I 8 (see Fig. 8) The block I I4 carries the shaft 9| upon which the feed roller I is mounted.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the raising of link 96 by cam I3 and the consequent shifting of lever III to the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings causes the cam projection II3 on such lever to force the block I'll to the left, as viewed in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, against the tension of spring IIG, thereby carrying the shaft 9| and the feed roller I toward the feed roller 8 mounted on the shaft 94 and bringing such rollers into cooperative relation to feed the wire toward the spiral forming die I0. The pivot II! of the lever III comprises a pin which extends transversely through a block II'I mounted in the guideway of the guide H5. The block I" is adiustaoly secured in position in such guide by means of an adjustable screw member II8 which extends through the adjacent end closure of guide III and is provided with a lock nut which engages with the outer face of such end closure, the projecting end of the member 8 being provided with a hand-wheel whereby adjustment of such member may be attained. With this construction it is possible, therefore, to make an adjustment in the range of movement of block H4 and consequently the feed roller I to provide for varying thiciraiesses of wire to be fed to the forming die By the time that the two feed rollers I and 8 have been thus brought into cooperative relation to grip and feed the wire, the cam I3 has been rotated by the shaft 59 to its highest point so that immediately thereafter the cam roller 95 and link 95 drop back to their normal positions with the cam roller 95 coming into engagement with the portion of cam I3 in back of the toothshaped portion I3 thereof. With the return of link 96, lever I00 likewise returns to its lowermost normal position. As has been previously mentioned, the return movement of lever I00 is made possible because of the form of its connection with the enlarged key portion I04 of the shaft I 0|, the lever I00 becoming released from such portion I04 and thereby breaking its positive co'limection with shaft IN and consequently lever I 3.

The lever I03 in addition to bringing the.

rollers I and 8 into cooperative relation in the above described manner, also starts the operation of a metering device for controlling the length of the period that such rollers will remain in cooperative relation at the same time that the feed rollers 1 and 8 begin their feed ing of the wire to the forming die I0. The metering device comprises a standard I33 (see Figs. 7 and 9) mounted on the lever I01 which, as has been explained, is controlled by lever I03 through link I05 and universal joint I06. The standard I33 has rotatably mounted on its upper end a roller I32, which is adapted to come into engagement with the under surface of a shoe I3I provided on the outer .end of a lever I30 which is pivotally supported intermediate its ends at I28 upon a pair of upstanding, spaced ears formed on a bracket I26 secured to the frame of the machine. The other end of the lever I30 rests on the upper end of a vertically disposed shaft I28 which is slidably and rotatably mounted in a pair of spaced bearing arms formed on said supporting bracket I26 and is normally urged to its uppermost position by means of a helical spring seated between the lower bearing arm and a spool I21 secured to the shaft I28 intermediate such bearing arms. The lower end of the shaft I28 is provided with a clutch plate I24 adapted to engage a clutch plate I23 mounted on the upper end of a shaft which is rotatably mounted in a closed bearing housing I22 supported by the frame of the machine. Also secured to the shaft bearing the plate I23, is a worm wheel I2I which meshes with a worm I20 provided on the feed 'roller shaft 84, as is shown more clearly in Fig. 7 of the drawings. As shaft 84 is continuously rotating, worm I20, worm wheel I2I and the clutch plate I23 will be continuously rotated. It will thus be seen that when the roller I32 on standard I33 comes into engagement with the shoe I3I, the lever I30 is pivoted at the point I28 to shift the shaft I28 downwardly an amount sufiicient to bring the clutch plate I24 into engagement with the clutch plate I23. The standard I33 is mounted on the lever I06 in such manner that the engagement of the two clutch plates I23 and I24 takes place at the same time that the feed rollers 1 and 8 are closed outer end of an extension I38 provided on the by the projection II3 on lever III and begin the feed of the wire to the forming die. As the clutch plate I23 through shaft 84, worm I20 and worm wheel I2I is continuously rotating, the closing of the two clutch plates I23 and I24 will start shaft I28 to rotating.

The clutch plate I24 is provided on its upper peripheral surface portion with a circular slot I34 (see Figs. 7 and 9) which is T-shaped in cross-section and within which is slidably positioned the head of a T-bolt I35 which threadedly carries a button or knob I35. The T-bolt I35 and the button or knob I35 may be shifted in the T-slot I34 to any desired position by first unscrewing the button I35 and then manually I moving such elements. When once properly adjusted, however, such parts are fixedly secured in position with respect to the T-slot by screwing the button I35 down against the upper surface of the clutch plate I24. The position of the bolt I35 and button I 35 will be determined by the length of time that the feed rollers 1 and 8 are to remain in cooperative relation. In the rotative movement of the clutch plate I24, the button I35 is moved in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. l of the drawings, and is brought into engagement with the outer end of a free swinging arm I36 (see Fig. 7) which is rotatably mounted at its other end on the shaft I28. The free swinging arm I36 is connected to the lever I01 by means of a link I31 which is connected at one end to the outer end of such lever I01. Thus the bearing of the button I35 on the free swinging arm I36 causes the latter to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. '1 of the drawings, to cause the link I31 to be shifted to the left, as viewed in such figure, and thereby to cause the lever I01 to be rotated in a counterclockwise manner about its pivot I08 back towards its normal or starting position. The free end of the lever I01 has connected at a point adjacent tothe universal connection I06 and preferably to such connection, as is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 9 of the drawings, one end of a spring I38 which is connectedat its other end to the free end of the lever II I. By this arrangement the spring I38 is disposed on' one side of the pivot point I08 of the lever I01 in the normal starting positions of the levers I01 and III. When, however, the lever I01 is swung in a clockwise direction to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, in the manner heretofore explained, the spring I38 is likewise swung in the same direction so that it is positioned on the other side of the pivot point I08 and in this position, the spring is stretched and under increased tension. Thus as the lever I01 is returning to its normal position under the influence of link I31, free swinging arm I36 and button I35, the spring I38, as soon as it has been carried back past the pivot I08, will operate with a snap action to bring the lever I01 immediately back to its normal starting position. As a result of this action,

there is an immediate release of the pressure exerted by the cam roller I08 on the free end of the lever III, thereby enabling the lever I I I to return to its normal starting position. In returning to its starting position the lever III in turn withdraws the cam projection II3, thereby releasing the latters pressure on the block H4 and enabling the spring II6 to shift such block to the right, as viewed in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings. The shifting of block II4 by spring II6 disconnects the two feed rollers 1 and 8 from their driving relation and renders them ineffective to continue the feed of the wire to the forming die I0.

The return movement of the lever I01 also causes the roller I32 to ride off the entry end of the shoe I3I thereby enabling the free end of the lever I30 to drop back to its normal position by its own weight. The restoring of the lever I30 to its normal position causes the other end thereof to shift the shaft I 28 to break the driving connection-between the clutch plates I24 and I23. Secured to the shaft I28 intermediate the two spaced bearing arms provided on the bracket I26, is a spool I21 provided with a spiral spring which is so attached to the bracket I26 that it is wound up as the clutch plate I24 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. '1 of the drawings, during the period of feed of the rollers 1 and 8. When the clutch plate I24 is released from clutch plate I23, however, the tensioned spiral spring immediately returns the clutch plate I24 and consequently the button I35 to their starting positions in position for the commencement of a new cycle of operations, such as has been hereinabove described.

When the shaft 58 has rotated through the first 90 of its revolution the cam 13 has been rotated to a position where the cam roller and consequently the link 86 have been permitted to drop back to their normal positions, as has been previously explained. At the end of this portion of the cycle of the shaft 59, the lug 53 has come into engagement with the second wedge 5I' (see Fig. 15) which retracts the lug 53 against the tension of its spring 55, thereby removing the pin 54 from the recess 51 with which it was engaged in the female clutch member 56 and disconnecting the shaft 59 from its driven relation with the motor 60. This operation takes place at the same time that the feeding rolls 1 and 8 have started the feed of the wire to the forming die I and shaft 69 will remain disconnected from the motor 60 throughout the entire period of feed of the feeding rollers 1 and 8 and until the lever I01 has been returned to its normal or starting position When the lever I01 has been returned to its normal position, mechanism comes into operation to withdraw the wedge I' from the path of the lug 53, thereby enabling the pin 54 to enter into engagement with a recess 51 on thefemale clutch member 56 and again drivingly connect the shaft 59 to the motor 60. The shaft 59 then continues its rotative movement through the remaining 270 of its cycle, at the end of which the lug 53 will again come into engagement with wedge 5I to disconnect such shaft from the motor 60. During the last 270 movement of the shaft 59, the cutter-elevating cam 12 comes into operation to lift the cutting mechanism into position to cut 5 the ends of the wire, the cutter-operating cam II causes such cutting mechanism to operate and cut the wires and at the same time to bend the cut ends thereof and the clamp operating cams 10, come into operation to lift the clamp member 36 from the top of the book so as to enable the operator to remove the same and place a new book in position for the next cycle of operations of the machine.

The mechanism for again connecting the shaft 59 with the motor 60 to enable the aforesaid operations to be accomplished by the cams I0, 10, II and 12, includes a swivel arm I40 which is pivoted at I40 to the gear housing 64 and carries at its outer end the wedge 5|, as is shown more clearly in Fig. 16 of the drawings. arm I40 is also connected by a link I4I to a lever I42 which is pivoted intermediate its ends on a bracket I43 positioned on the top of the gear housing 64. The lever I42 is normally maintained to position wedge 5| in the path of the lug 53 by a spring I44 mounted in a seat provided in bracket I49. Pivotal movement of the lever I42 against the tension of spring I44 to remove the wedge 5I from the path of the lug 53, is accomplished by means of a shoe I45 (see Fig. 8) which is provided on the other end of the lever I42 and is adapted to be engaged and depressed by a roller I46 provided on the under side of the link I05 when such link is moved rearwardly to its normal position as the lever I01 is being returned to its normal position by the spring I39.

The roller I46 is spring-pressed so that in the forward motion of the lever I05 the head thereof engages with a cam surface provided on the shoe I45 and is forced rearwardly against the tension of such spring until the roller clears the shoe I45 at the end of the forward movement of the link I05, the shoe I45 being so constructed that on the rearward movement of the link I05, the roller I46 comes into engagement with the top, outer surface of the shoe I45 to depress the same, as has been previously explained. As has been before mentioned, the removal of the wedge 5I' enables The outer end of the by the metering mechanismabove described.

cess 51 and thereby connect the shaft 59 to the motor 60. As shaft 59 rotates, the cutter-elevating cam 12 shifts a link I41 (see Fig. 3) lengthwise through the medium of the cam roller I49 mounted on such link. The link I41 is provided with a fork-shaped end which straddles the shaft 59 intermediate the cam 12 and the gear housing 64 and at its other end, is connected to a bar I52 which is supported on the outer ends of two rocker arms I49, I49. The other ends of the rocker arms I49, I49 are secured to a rocker shaft I53 which is rotatably supported in the bearing brackets I50, I50 connected to the side frames of the machine, as is shown more clearly in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Flxedly connected to the bar I52 are a plurality of spaced links designated I5I, which extend upwardly from the bar I52 and are connected at their upper ends to the under side of a shelf I54.- Movement of the shelf I54 is confined to a vertical direction by means of two end guides I55, I55 which are recessed to receive tongue projections provided on the outer ends of the shelf I54. It will therefore be seen that as the cam 12 is rotated, the link I41 is shifted longitudinally in an upward direction through its connection with the cam by means of the cam roller I48, thereby causing the bar I52 and the rocker arms I49 to be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3 of the drawings. thereby raising the links I5I to lift the shelf I54 from its lowermost position up in the guides I55. As the shelf I54 is being raised, it raises a pair of cutting and bending units which are indicated generally in Figs. 1 and 3 by the reference character I56 and are slidably mounted on the frame of the machine, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The cam 12 is provided with a surface portion 12' which is concentric with the shaft 59 and causes the shelf I54 to dwell or be maintained in its uppermost position for a predetermined period as the shaft 59 and the cam 12 are being rotated. During this period of dwell the cam 1| comes into operation to actuate the cutting and bending devices I56 to cut the formed spiral wire and immediately following to bend the ends of the wire inwardly, thereby completing the formation of the spiral binding wire and locking th spiral against rotation and removal from the book.

The cam ii is engaged by a cam roller I51 (see Fig. 3) which is mounted on an arm I58 intermediate the ends of the latter. The arm I56 is pivotally connected at one end to 9. lug I59 provided on the gear housing 64 and is connected at its other end to the lower end of a substantially vertically disposed link I60. The upper end of link I is connected to the outer forward end of an arm I6I fixedly secured to a square-shaped the pin 54 to come into engagement with the re- 76 bar I62 extending lengthwise of the machine. The ends of the bar I62 are cylindrically formed and are rotatably mounted in suitable bearings carried by the frame of the machine. Intermediate the ends of the bar I62 are a pair of adjustable levers I 63 (see Figs. 3 and 4) which extend rearwardly of the machine so that their outer ends are positioned above the shelf I54. The levers I63 are spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the width of th book to be bound. It will thus be seen that as the cam II approaches its high point during the period of dwell of the shelf I54, the arm I59 is rotated upwardly about its pivot I59 to raise the link I60, in turn to pivot the arm I6I upwardly and cause the shaft I62 to turn in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and

thereby depress the outer ends of th fingers or levers I59, which during such downwardly movement actuate the cutting mechanisms I55 associated therewith.

The cutting'devices I55, as will be seen more clearly in Figs. 12 to 14 of the drawings, include a body portion I55 having on its forward face a dove-tailed slot 155 which extends transversely to .the shelf I54 and inclines from the vertical at an angle corresponding to the pitch angle of the spiral. Slidably mounted in the slot I55 is a dove-tailed shaped block I51, with which is integrally formed a slide block portion I58 extending transversely to the block I51 so that they form a distorted cross-shaped member. The portion I55 of such member is slidablymounted in a longitudinally extending guideway I59 formed in a depending portion I (see Fig. 11) provided along the rear edge of the work-table. Thus the cutting unit I55 may be shifted lengthwise of the table by moving the block portion I58 in the guideway I59 and the body portion I55 thereof may be moved in an inclined transverse direction by moving said body and consequently the guideway I55 thereof relativ to the block portion I51. One of the cutting devices I55 is positioned at each end of the binding edge of the book and when properly .positioned for the operations to be performed are secured in such position by any suitable means such as the set screw I1I. The upward inclined movement of the body portions of such units to bring the cutting and bending instrumentalities carried thereby into operative relation with the spiral binder threaded into the book, is brought about by tle engagement of the shelf I54 with th heads of adjustable push screws I55, I55 threadedly received in the bottom ends of the body portions I65, I55 of such units, as is clearly shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings.

Integrally formed with the upper end of the body I55 of each unit is an angularly disposed member or extension 30 which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal center line of the slot I55. The extension or member 90 is substantially triangularly-shaped in cross-section, the wedge-shaped forward face of which is adapted to enter between the coils of the spiral in the upward movement of the body I55 of the cutting device I55 under the action of the shelf I55 so as not to disturb the portion of the spiralled wire which extend or protrude rearwardly from the binding edge of the book.

' At the other end of the upper portion of the body I55 of each of th cutting devices, is provided an upwardly extending extension I8I which is provided on its forward face with a pair of guide members I19 and I80 adapted to pass on either side of one coil of the wire in the upward movement of the body I55 of the cutting device. The upper ends of the members I19 and I80 are beveled or flared to permit the ready access of the coil between such members and the bodies of such members are spaced apart a distance slightly'in excess of the diameter of the wire so that the coil of wire fits readily therebetween without any excess play. At the end of the upward movement of the body I55 of the device, the two members I19 and I80 are positioned adjacent the upper end of the spiral coil with the top portion of the coil disposed between such members, the bottom ends of such members being positioned at a point above the axi of the spiral coil, as is shown in Fig. 13 of the drawings. Positloned directly below the member I80 and fixedly secured to the body I55 of the device, as by means of set screws I14, Is the stationary blade I13 of a cutting device. The fixed blade I13 and the guide member I are aligned and extend at an angle substantially equal to the pitch angle of the spiral coil. Associated with the fixed blade I13 of the cutting device and normally positioned beneath the guide member I19 i a movable blade I15 integrally formed on the upper end of an arm- I15 which is integrally formed with a bearing portion I15 extending through an aperture in the body I55 of th device and rotatably supported in such aperture. The rear end of the portion I15 projects outwardly beyond the rear surface of the body I55 of the devic and has secured thereto one end of an arm I11, which extends along the rear upper portion of the device and at itsfre end projects outwardly from a side thereof. The arm I11 is normally maintained in its uppermost position, as is illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14 of the drawings, by means of a coiled spring I82 which is positioned intermediate the outer end of such arm and a projection formed on the rear of the unit. Pivotally connected to the outer free end of the arm' I11 is an elongated depending ring I18 through which extends the outer end of a lever I53 (see Figs. 3 and 11).

It will be evident from the foregoing that when the lever I53 is pivoted downwardly by the shaft I52, the free end thereof engages with the lower end of the elongated ring member I18 and forces such ring member downwardly, thereby causing the arm I11 to pivot the movable blade I15 toward the fixed blade I18 and thereby out the portion of the spiral extending between the cutting surfaces of such blades. As the blade I15 continues its movement between the fixed blade I13 and the guide member or anvil I80, the portion of the wire immediately above the point of severance is bent about the lower left-hand edge of the anvil I80, as viewed in Fig. 13 of the drawings, and extended inwardly toward the adjacent coils on the book so as to be positioned substantially parallel to the axis of the spiral wire, as is indicated by the dotted line end portion designated I in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The two cutting devices I55, I55 are substantially similar in construction except that in the right-hand device, as viewed in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the movable blade is positioned to wipe over the upper end of the fixed cutting blade, as is illustrated in Fig. 13 of the drawings, so that the inwardly projecting bent portion is connected to an upwardly rising portion of the coil (note the dotted portion designated I in Fig. 5 of the drawings). The cutting device on the left-hand side of the machine, asviewed in Fig. 4 of the drawings. has the cutting and bending devices reversed, that is, the two bending members are positionedbelow the cutting members and their positions with respect to the body I65 are interchanged. This is illustrated in Fig. 15 of the drawings, the bending members I19 and I80 in such figure corresponding to the bending members I19 and I80, respectively, shown in Fig. 13 of the drawings and the cutting members I13 and I15 in such figure corresponding to the cutting members I18 and I15, respectively, shown in Fig. 13 of the drawings. Referring more particularly to Fig. 15 of the drawings, it will be-seen that the bending member I50 is positioned below but in alignment with the fixed cutting blade I15, while the bending member I19 is positioned below and in alignment with the movable cutting blade I15. It will also be noted that the members are so arranged that the cutting blade I15 manner as does the cutting blade I15 shown in Fig. 13 of the drawings, and will. therefore, cut and bend the wire in a direction directly opposed to that of unit shown in Fig. 13, so that at the end of the cutting and bending operations the two out bent ends of the wire will be positioned within the ends of the spiral member and will ex tend towards each other. By the time that these operations have taken place. the cam roller I40 will have traversed the cam portion 12', thereby ending the period of dwell and enabling the shelf I54 to fall by its own weight. The body I65 of each cutting unit I56, however, is held in its elevated position by means of a friction spring I03 (see Fig. 12) which is positioned in a recess provided in the inner face of the guide portion I61 and bears against the adjacent face of the body I65 of the cutting device.

Following the cutting and bending operations above described, the two identical cams I0, I0

mounted on the ends of shaft 59 cause the book clamp 34 to be lifted through their engagement with cam rollers provided on two spaced lever arms I90 secured at their ends to a bar or shaft I9I extending longitudinally of the machine and rotatably mounted in the bearing brackets I92. As is shown more clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the rear or free end of each of the levers I90 is normally urged downwardly by means of a tension spring I94 connected at its upper end to the free end of its associated lever I90 through a depending link I93 and connected at its lower end to an adjustable anchorage I95 provided on the frame of the machine. The free ends of the levers I90 are also connected to the lower ends of substantially vertically disposed links I96, which at their upper ends are pivotally connected to hearing pins I91 provided on each end of the body 34 of the clamp. It will thus be seen that as the free ends of the levers I90 are pivoted upwardly by the cams I0, I0, the links I96 are raised against the tension of their associated springs I94 to lift the clamp body 34 to a position where the springpressed holding members 33, 33 provided on such body are enabled to move outwardly under the tension of their associated springs and come into engagement with the tops of the guides 35, 35 which slidably support the clamp body and thereby releasably hold the clamp body in its elevated position. 0n the continued rotation of the shaft 59 the elevated portions of the cams I0, I0 pass the rollers associated with the lever arms I90 so that when the spring-pressed members 33, 33 are pressed by the threaded bolts 3|, 3|, as has been previously explained, the released clamp body 34 and its associated mechanism is free to drop to a position determined by the thickness of the book D placed on the table.

Also raised with the clamp body 34 is a dampening and guide bar I98 (see Figs. 5 and 6) which is loosely pivoted to the foot of the clamp by means of the two integrally formed end arms I99, I99. When the clamp body 34 is released by depressing the spring-pressed pins 33, 33 the dampening or cushioning bar l98'falls into position on top of the binding edge of the book, be-

yond the series of perforations provided therein and in position to overlie a portion of the spiral binder as it is being fed through the book. The cushioning member I98 is provided with a series of slots I91 which are ofiset to the same degree 75 P vot bers so, so ofthe cutting units until the clamp therethrough. The slots are chamfered or belled at the rear to permit the leading end or tip of the binding coil to freely enter such slots progressively as it is being fed through the aligned perforations of the book. The member I93 will remain in this position on the binding edge of the book until the cutting and bending units I56, I56 are raised by the shelf I54, at which time the guide portions 30, 30 of such units will engage the member I99 and tilt it upwardlyabout its arms I99. The dampening member I remains resting in this tilted position on the guide memhas been raised, whereupon it will be free to fall back to a horizontal position.

The machine also includes a side gauge 2" (see Fig. 2) for correctly positioning the book on the table so that the sets of apertures thereof will be in proper position to receive the hooked fingers 29 when the handle A is thrown forwardly by the operator. The side gauge 2" is controlled by the operating handle A through an actuating arm 200 (see Fig. 20) which is secured at its upper end to the bearing bracket 20 associated with the handle unit. The lower depending end of the'arm 200 engages the upper end of a rocker lever 20I which is rotatablymounted on shaft I53, the lower end of such rocker arm being connected to one end of a link 202 which is pivotally con ected at its other end to an offset portion or a 203 of a bell crank205. The bell crank 205' is pivotally connected to the frame of the machine at 204. The other arm of the bell crank lever is connected to the lower end of an adjustable rod 206 which extends up through a bracket 201 secured to the frame of the machine and is provided at its upper end with a universal joint 209 which connects such end of the rod with one arm 2I0 of a bell crank lever. 0n the rod 206, intermediate the bracket 201 and the universal Joint 209, is provided a spiral spring 200 adapted to normally maintain the rod 206 and consequently the above mentioned connected parts in the position illustratedin Fig. 20 of the drawings. The bell crank 2I0 is pivotally mounted at 2I I on a bracket 2 I2 mounted on the frame of the machine (see Fig. 21). Arm 2I3 of the bell crank lever 2I0 extends upwardly and is provided on its free end with a roller 2I4 which is positioned in a recess provided on the under side of a block 2I5. The block 2I5 extends through a slot 220 provided in the table HI and at its upper end, which is reduced in cross-section, it extends through a slide plate 2I6. The slide plate 2I6 is mounted for longitudinal movement in a pair of ways or angle plates 2! (see Fig. 20) which form guides for the slidable member 2I6. The forward end of the slide 2I'6 bears the feed gauge plate 2".

From the foregoing, it will be seen that as the operating handle A is initially pivoted forwardly, the arm 200 carried on by bearing bracket 20 will engage the upper end of the loosely supported rocker lever 2M and cause the lever to be rotated in a counter-clockwisemanner, as viewed in Fig. 20 of the drawings to shift the link 202 connected with the lower end of such rocker arm forwardly or to the right, as is shown in Fig. 22 of the drawings. The forward movement of the link 202 pivots the bell crank lever 205 about its 204 in a counter-clockwise direction, as

v viewed in Figs. 2 0 and 22 of the drawings, throwing it to the position illustrated in Fig. 22 where it will be locked in dead :center position until displaced therefrom, as will be hereinafter ex-' plained. The pivotal movement of bell crank lever 205, causes the rod 205 to be drawn downthe arm 2I3..connect ed thereto, through the roller 2I4, to withdraw the block 2I-5 and slide 2I5. ,The gauge plate 2I1 mounted on the inner end of slide 2I5 is thereby withdrawn from the adjacent edge 222 of the table 23'of the machine. When a book is placed on the table 23 the gauge plate 2 is in its fully advancedposition at a predetermined distance from the edge 222 of the table. 'Ihisdistance between the two parts may be adjusted by turning the gauge screw 223 so that the apertures of the book to be bound will be in proper position to readily receive the ends of the hooked fingers 29 when the operating handle is pivoted forwardly by the operator. The forward movement of the operating handle A withdraws the gauge plate 2" from the book just prior to the entry of the hooks 23 into the apertures of the books, the distance of withdrawal of the gauge plate 2" being preferably at least as great as the pitch between adjacent coils of the binder to enable the hooks 29 to shift the pages of the book in a sidewise manner without interference in the formation of the apertures of the book to segments of helical form, as has been previously explained. The positions to which the above described parts have been actuated by the forward throw of the handle A, are maintained throughout the feeding of the spiral wire and the cutting and bending of the ends of such wire.

Provided on the rocker lever 20I is a pin 225 which is adapted to be engaged by a slot provided on a latch member 225 which is pivotally supported intermediate its ends on a rocker arm 221 secured to-the shelf-operating shaft I53. The latch 225 is normally urged toward a stop pin 228 by means of a spring 229 which is connected into operation to snap the arm 205 upwardly,

thereby restoring gauge plate 2" through bell crank lever 2I0, block 2I5' and slide 2" to its normal advanced position with respect to edge 222 of the table 23. The gauge plat 2" is by this action'restored to a position for reception of a new book or pages to be bound, such book or. pages being placed by the operator up against the front face of the plate 2I1.

Adjustment of the rear portion of the work table 23 in a vertical direction is attained through adjustment of a knurled thumb wheel 234 which is secured to a shaft 235 extending across the entire width of the table along the rear end portion thereof (see Fig. 1'7) The shaft 235 has secured thereto, at spaced points, a pair of worms 233 which engage with worm wheels 232 contained in recesses provided on the rear edge portion of the table 23. The worm wheels 232 are mounted on a pair of supporting pins 230 (see each of whichprojects a pin member 231 secured at one end to the latch 225 intermediate the pin 228 and its point of pivotal connection with the arm 229 and at its other end is connected to an extension 230 secured to. the shaft I53. The normal position of the rocker arm 20I with the latch and latch-operating mechanism above describedis illustrated in Fig. 20 of the drawings.

When the rocker arm 20I is pivoted in a counto the table and through such connection preventing the pins 230 from rotating with the worm wheels 23:. It will thus be seen that by manipubinder of a predetermined diameter, the center has been previously explained. When the shaft 7 of the book along a line extending through the centers of the series or sets of apertures, as for example, the line indicated by .the numeral 233 shown inLFigs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, shall be approximately similar to the axis of the spiral binder when fed into position on the book.

The table 23 is positioned intermediate two fixed table portions 243, 243 and, as is shown more clearly in Fig. 23 of the drawings, is pivotally connected to such fixed portions at its forward end by means of a pair of pins ,2, ,2 which project from extensions 240, 240 provided on the side forward ends of the table 23 and extend into slots 242, 242 of a pair of blocks 244 at the forward ends of the fixed table portions 243, 243.

The blocks 244, 244 are made of hardened metal and are inserted in recesses provided in the forward ends of the fixed table portions 243, 243 adjacent to the forward end of the table 23. The slots 242, 242 in the blocks 244, 244 extend lengthwise of the table portions 243, 243 and permit movement of the pins 24I, 2 relative thereto to enable the table 23 to be shifted towards and away from the axis of the spiral die I 0. Intermediate the ends of the table 23 and on the under side of the forward portion thereof are provided a pair of depending lugs 246 and 241 between which is positioned a yoke 246 which is pivotally supported in the lugs 246, 241 by means of pins. Extending through the body of the yoke 243, flxedly secured to the latter in any suitable fashion, is the end of a stem 243 of an adjustment member, such stem extending also through and being threadedly engaged with a block 266 which is secured to a fixed portion of the machine. as for example, the cross-beam or bar 26I which is integrally'formed with the fixed portions 243, 243 of the table and extends across the front of the machine. On the outer end of the stem 243 is provided a hand-wheel 252 which, when rotated to rotate the stem 243, causes variations in adjustment as between the block 256 and theyoke 246 and consequently causes adjustment of the table in a forwardly or rearwardly direction with respect to the stem 246. As has been previously explained, the-pins 2, 2 pivotally supporting the ends of the table are slidably mounted in the guide blocks 242, 24I so that such adjustment of the table may be readily accomplished. Preferably a lock nut 253 having a handle portion 254 is interposed between the hand-wheel 252 and the block 256 so that the operator by turning the hand lever 254 may lock the table in its adjusted position. n

Projecting from each side of the rear portion of the stationary table portions 243, 243 are a pair of brackets 255, 255(see Fig. 2) through each of which extends an adjustable member 256 normally secured in fixed position with relation to its associated bracket 255 as by means of a lock nut. The members 256 each have an enlarged head adapted to be engaged by the shell or housingE and which serve as surface supports for the shell E when the operating handle A is moved rearwardly to bring the spiral feeding and bending mechanism into operation. The contact surfaces of the heads of members 256 may be coated with rubber or otherwise finished to reduce the wear and friction of the housing member'E on such members to a minimum.

Mounted on shaft 25 of the handle unit so as to be concentric to the hooked fingers 23, is an arcuately-shaped plate 260 (see Figs. 1, 3, 10 and 19) which moves in unison with the hooks 23 when the operating handle A is actuated. Positioned on the frame ofthe machine is an electrical switch 26| (see Figs. 1 and 19) which normally is not engaged by the arcuately-shaped member 266 in the normal operations of the machine. Should the hooks 29, however, fail to properly enter the apertures in the book due to misplacement of the book, or any other reason, shaft 25 is displaced from its normal position, thereby disturbing the concentric relation of the arcuatelyshaped member 260 with the axis of the feeding die and causing such member to engage the electrical switch 26I so as to close the same. switch 26I is contained in a circuit which includes a solenoid 262 (see Figs. 7 and 8) connected to and controlling the position of shaft IOI and the enlarged key portion I04 thereof which is =posi tioned intermediate the recessed hubs of the levers I and I03. The solenoid 252 is connected to the shaft IOI through a lever 263 which is pivotally supported intermediate its ends'on a bearing bracket 264 secured to a fixed portion of the The machine. It will thus be seen that when switch I is actuated as a result of the inability of the hooks to properly enter the apertures in the book,

recess in the lever the solenoid 262 is actuated to withdraw the shaft I6I from its normal position. thereby withdraw-' ing the enlarged key portion I64 thereof from the I63 and consequently destroying the rigid bell crank relationship between the lever I66 and I63. Thus when link 66 and lever I66 are actuated by cam 13, such motion is not transmitted to lever I63 due to the destruction of the operative connection between levers I66 and I63 and the mechanism which would ordinarily operate the feed rollers to feed the wire are maintained in static condition so that the cycle of operations of the machine is completed without feeding the wire through the book. Attached to the free end of the lever 263 is a roller 265 which bears against and controls the movement of a link 266 which is connected at one end to wedge 6| and at its other end is provided with a slot 261 adapted to engage with a pm 266 provided" on push rod or link 96. Normally the connection between the link 66 and wedge 6| is broken due to the fact that recess 261 does not engage pin 266 but is spaced from such pin, as is illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings. When, however, the solenoid 262 is actuated to force. the lever 263 in a clockwise direction about its pivot 264, as viewed in Fig. 8 of the drawings, the wheel 265 on the outer end of lever 263 gives way to permit the recess 261 to come into engagement with and lock on the projection or pin 268. The lever 36 is then connected to the wedge 5| so that as link 36 is actuated by cam 13, link 266 is caused to withdraw wedge 6| from its normal locking position with respect to the lug 53, thereby enabling pin 54 to come into engagement with the recess on the female member 56 of the clutch and drivingiy connect the shaft 53 with the motor 60 and permitting the machine to continue and complete its cycle of movements without, however, as

has been previously explained, permitting the spiral wire to be fed to the book.

When the solenoid 262 is actuated, means come into operation to restore the normal position of shaft I6I with respect to levers I00 and I03, so that as succeeding books are placed on the machine the latter may function in a normal manner. The means for accomplishing this includes 7 a bell crank lever 210 which is pivotally supported at 2" on a fixed portion of the machine and has an arm 212 which is connected to the armature 213 of thesolenoid by means of a link 214. The outer end of the bell crank arm 212 controls a switch 215 which is opened when the solenoid 262 is operated as a result of the switch 26| being closed, thus breaking the circuit in which the solenoid 262 is included. The rotative movement imparted to the bell crank lever 216 causes the arm 216 thereof to be moved downwardly into the path of movement of a pin 211 on push rod I60 which is connected to cam 1I through lever I56 and-cam roller I51, as is shown in Fig. f the drawings. Thus as push rod I is shifted upwardly during the completion of the machine cycle, the projection 211 engages the arm 216 of bell crank lever 210 and pivots such bell crank lever about its pivotal point 2" to bring it to its normal position, the plunger 213 of the solenoid 262, lever 263 and shaft IOI, together with the enlarged key portion I64 being returned to their normal positions so that such several parts condition the machine for its usual normal cycle of operations.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that when the machine is in operation and ready to receive a book to be bound,the"" 

